Welcome to the Community of Mindfulness New York Metro[CMNY], inspired by the teachings and practice of Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. The CMNY is part of a network of national and international sanghas [communities]: a “fourfold community” of laywomen and laymen, nuns and monks. Email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

All that is dear to me and everyone that I love is of the nature to change

There is no way to escape being separated from them.

I inherit the results of my actions of body, speech and mind.

My actions are my continuation."

[From Plum Village Chanting Book, page 52.]

The Five Remembrances will be the focus of our mindfulness meditation practice on this day. Thich Nhat Hanh says: “In principle, we all know that we cannot avoid growing old, falling sick, dying, and being separated from these we love, but we do not want to give our attention these things. We do not want to be in touch with the anxiety and the fear….The Buddha himself taught the exercise and advised his followers to practice it every day….When we begin to practice conscious breathing, mindfulness is lit up within us. In that gentle light, if we simply acknowledge the presence of our fears and smile to them as we would smile to an old friend, quite naturally they will lose some of their energy.”

[Blooming of the Lotus, pages 67-9.]

Looking deeply into the Five Remembrances can also heighten our motivation to practice and “helps us to live the present moment in a joyous, calm, and awakened way.” [Page 69, Blooming of the Lotus.]